I'm off to the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod again this week. Hoping to edge up the placings from my 5th spot last year. I feel a lot more prepared for what to expect that I did last year, and am looking forward to the spectacle of the thing as much as performing and competing.
One of the best things about Llangollen is that it's one of the few Eisteddfods where you don't have to sing or speak in Welsh - I've always been glad about that. However, I then decided to sing Rusalka's Song to the Moon by Dvorak, which is in Czech.
Yep. Czech.
All you can do is learn it phonetically and hope for the absolute best. I did sing the song once, only to find out that there was a Czech speaker in the audience. Fortunately she reckoned she could understand me. Maybe there's hope for me yet.....
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Monday, 4 July 2011
Monday, 14 March 2011
And...1, 2, 3, 4
The singing season of 2011 starts in earnest next weekend. I'm guesting at a concert near Dudley, with Radio 2's Nigel Ogden. Good way to start the singing year.
Next up will be Rutter's Requiem in April, which I'm looking forward to as well, and then they start to come thick and fast. This is good.
Next up will be Rutter's Requiem in April, which I'm looking forward to as well, and then they start to come thick and fast. This is good.
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Love and Marriage (Part 2)
Having been to almost no weddings in the last few years, we went to the second in less than a month last weekend.
What was even more bizarre was that it was another couple of friends from band who were getting married. Clearly if you want to find your soulmate, a military band, operatic society or other such activity is the thing to do!
David and Helen decided that they wanted to involve as much of their (extremely busy) musical lives in the service and the reception, which meant that I got to sing, both solo and as part of an amalgamated choir which is something I haven't done for a long time. It was absolutely great. However, the biggest part went, fittingly I suppose, to the band. They marched the bride, groom and all their guests from the church to the village hall and then played during the reception.
Not to be left out, though, David and Helen played along with the band at every possible opportunity - including the march down from the church. Not sure what the villagers made of the clarinet-playing bride who had to stand at the back of the band formation, so that her train wouldn't get stood on!
Monday, 11 May 2009
Making music
It's all about the music here at the moment.
Number one son has successfully charmed the brass teacher at school and is going to start his much longed-for trombone lessons this week. Doesn't sound much but this is at least 2 years earlier than the school normally puts children forward to learn an instrument. Credit to them for supporting what could have been misinterpreted as pushy parents and letting him try!
Number 2 son did some charming of his own on Saturday afternoon as he donned a miniature band uniform and joined Mike on stage for the first half of a band concert at the Central Hall. he did amazingly well and was quiet and still while the band played. He only conducted once! Once we arrived back from the party the oldest had been to, he joined us, but not before many an old lady had winked at him and told him that he was a "bobby dazzler".
I sang in a concert on Saturday night, in memory of a lovely man's late wife. The lovely man in question is Harold Rich who is a musician of real experience and skill. He worked at the BBC for many, many years and was musical director for Pebble Mill at One (for those of you too young to remember, this was a kind of forerunner to Richard and Judy, just at lunchtime and on BBC for a very long time).
He's the kind of person that is so unassuming that you forget the kind of life he's led. I sat deep in conversation with him one day and (being the wrong side of extremely old) he couldn't remember the name of the person he'd accompanied on a particular song. He kept going over and over, trying to remember, and kept saying that he was a "Spanish chap". I could only think of one and, jokingly, asked if he meant Jose Carreras. He did. I shut up.
The concert on Saturday was in memory of Joyce who died a little while ago. She was also a very lovely person. My one abiding memory was the first time I ever met either of them. I turned up at their house to rehearse for a concert and, not having been able to find a babysitter, had a very small boy in tow. Joyce played and played with my little chap while I sang and was so charming and generous about it. A lovely lady. The concert was a great tribute and as there was literally standing room only left, a good deal of money was raised for charity too. That's a good way to spend an evening.....
Number one son has successfully charmed the brass teacher at school and is going to start his much longed-for trombone lessons this week. Doesn't sound much but this is at least 2 years earlier than the school normally puts children forward to learn an instrument. Credit to them for supporting what could have been misinterpreted as pushy parents and letting him try!
Number 2 son did some charming of his own on Saturday afternoon as he donned a miniature band uniform and joined Mike on stage for the first half of a band concert at the Central Hall. he did amazingly well and was quiet and still while the band played. He only conducted once! Once we arrived back from the party the oldest had been to, he joined us, but not before many an old lady had winked at him and told him that he was a "bobby dazzler".
I sang in a concert on Saturday night, in memory of a lovely man's late wife. The lovely man in question is Harold Rich who is a musician of real experience and skill. He worked at the BBC for many, many years and was musical director for Pebble Mill at One (for those of you too young to remember, this was a kind of forerunner to Richard and Judy, just at lunchtime and on BBC for a very long time).
He's the kind of person that is so unassuming that you forget the kind of life he's led. I sat deep in conversation with him one day and (being the wrong side of extremely old) he couldn't remember the name of the person he'd accompanied on a particular song. He kept going over and over, trying to remember, and kept saying that he was a "Spanish chap". I could only think of one and, jokingly, asked if he meant Jose Carreras. He did. I shut up.
The concert on Saturday was in memory of Joyce who died a little while ago. She was also a very lovely person. My one abiding memory was the first time I ever met either of them. I turned up at their house to rehearse for a concert and, not having been able to find a babysitter, had a very small boy in tow. Joyce played and played with my little chap while I sang and was so charming and generous about it. A lovely lady. The concert was a great tribute and as there was literally standing room only left, a good deal of money was raised for charity too. That's a good way to spend an evening.....
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Missing out!
The sun is shining, I'm having a well-earned week off, the boys are having a great time running round the garden all day but I'm sulking inside. There, I've admitted it!
The reason for this unattractive state is that Mike is off to Scotland for the weekend to play with a massed band. Before I'm hastily labelled a control freak/bunny boiler/etc, I should get in quickly that I have no problem with Mike being away. His job generally means anti-social hours and passing like ships in the night for most of the time anyway!
No, my big beef is that I can't go with him. I'm booked for a concert on Saturday night and the date has been in my diary for months and months. Definitely not something I can (or should) just duck out of. I'm sure that it's going to be a good evening and that I'll enjoy what I'm singing but I'm also absolutely certain of the fact that it's going to be a fantastic weekend in Scotland, with loads of friends, some great music and brilliant laughs to be had. We've done this sort of weekend before and it's always amazing in all kinds of ways. I also hate being the one to miss out - I've already told Mike that he has to instruct me in all the in j0kes that will inevitably come back.
I don't know where this desperation not to miss out on anything comes from but I have always had it in me. I have never been able to bear not being at something or not understanding a joke.
Realistically, I've got to get over myself and just cope with the fact that I can't go but it's not an easy task to stifle the urge to run after the coach, shouting "take me with you, take me!".
Mike's only gripe about the whole situation is that, as he's not going as a couple this time, he won't get "married quarters" and will have to sleep in the smelly boys' dormitory where there will, no doubt, be snoring and nasty whiffs. It's a hard life.....
The reason for this unattractive state is that Mike is off to Scotland for the weekend to play with a massed band. Before I'm hastily labelled a control freak/bunny boiler/etc, I should get in quickly that I have no problem with Mike being away. His job generally means anti-social hours and passing like ships in the night for most of the time anyway!
No, my big beef is that I can't go with him. I'm booked for a concert on Saturday night and the date has been in my diary for months and months. Definitely not something I can (or should) just duck out of. I'm sure that it's going to be a good evening and that I'll enjoy what I'm singing but I'm also absolutely certain of the fact that it's going to be a fantastic weekend in Scotland, with loads of friends, some great music and brilliant laughs to be had. We've done this sort of weekend before and it's always amazing in all kinds of ways. I also hate being the one to miss out - I've already told Mike that he has to instruct me in all the in j0kes that will inevitably come back.
I don't know where this desperation not to miss out on anything comes from but I have always had it in me. I have never been able to bear not being at something or not understanding a joke.
Realistically, I've got to get over myself and just cope with the fact that I can't go but it's not an easy task to stifle the urge to run after the coach, shouting "take me with you, take me!".
Mike's only gripe about the whole situation is that, as he's not going as a couple this time, he won't get "married quarters" and will have to sleep in the smelly boys' dormitory where there will, no doubt, be snoring and nasty whiffs. It's a hard life.....
Friday, 3 April 2009
Amazing music
Have just been to a lovely concert at Holy Trinity tonight. It was Bach's cello suites by candlelight, given by Orlando Jopling, as part of his cello pilgrimage.
This is quite an amazing effort on his part to help churches all over the country raise money towards the restoration or maintenance of their buildings. He plays and the church organises everything and then keeps the proceeds.
But this was not only worth doing to help keep the church roof above our heads for a bit longer. Orlando performed beautifully. I'm no great cello or Bach connossieur but, as a musician, I know that the technique, musicianship and dedication needed to be able to play music like that is breathtaking. At one point his solo cello sounded like a string quartet, playing 3 or 4 notes at the same time.
It was such a treat, not only to be in the audience (don't do that nearly as often as I should or as I'd like) but to hear such a good performance. If he's coming to a church near you, I'd heartily recommend him.
This is quite an amazing effort on his part to help churches all over the country raise money towards the restoration or maintenance of their buildings. He plays and the church organises everything and then keeps the proceeds.
But this was not only worth doing to help keep the church roof above our heads for a bit longer. Orlando performed beautifully. I'm no great cello or Bach connossieur but, as a musician, I know that the technique, musicianship and dedication needed to be able to play music like that is breathtaking. At one point his solo cello sounded like a string quartet, playing 3 or 4 notes at the same time.
It was such a treat, not only to be in the audience (don't do that nearly as often as I should or as I'd like) but to hear such a good performance. If he's coming to a church near you, I'd heartily recommend him.
Saturday, 24 January 2009
A January serenade
Had a lot of fun tonight in Ladbroke, near Southam, where me and a gang of others did our now traditional "sing from scratch" Gilbert and Sullivan show.
We are a merry band (and the numbers vary, according to the show), who sing and act the principal parts and the paying audience get to sing in the chorus parts. It's always a huge laugh - often more so for us than for the audience! - and tonight was no exception. My sides ache from laughing during rehearsals and offstage and stifling giggles whilst on stage.
Tonight's effort was Trial by Jury and I was the jilted bride, complete with veil! The guy who played the judge is a truly funny, funny man and he knows he can make me and another couple of our regulars laugh just by how he says something. He is merciless and yet so understated that nobody who didn't know would guess it was him causing the hilarity.
This sort of thing always reminds me that being musical offers so much more than just the music. It brings friendships and giggling. It introduces like-minded people who can instantly find each other's wavelength. And, more than anything, it's a chance to air a gift that gives pleasure to you but might also be loved by other people.
I just love it.
We are a merry band (and the numbers vary, according to the show), who sing and act the principal parts and the paying audience get to sing in the chorus parts. It's always a huge laugh - often more so for us than for the audience! - and tonight was no exception. My sides ache from laughing during rehearsals and offstage and stifling giggles whilst on stage.
Tonight's effort was Trial by Jury and I was the jilted bride, complete with veil! The guy who played the judge is a truly funny, funny man and he knows he can make me and another couple of our regulars laugh just by how he says something. He is merciless and yet so understated that nobody who didn't know would guess it was him causing the hilarity.
This sort of thing always reminds me that being musical offers so much more than just the music. It brings friendships and giggling. It introduces like-minded people who can instantly find each other's wavelength. And, more than anything, it's a chance to air a gift that gives pleasure to you but might also be loved by other people.
I just love it.
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